What Is Total Reality About?
The premise of Total Reality in 295 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a near‑future where Earth has fallen under the iron grip of a militarized regime, the remnants of humanity cling to a fragile hope while the galaxy watches a relentless power struggle unfold. The world is a bleak, high‑tech tapestry of towering star‑bases and crumbling cities, where the promise of salvation is whispered through the flicker of a single, forbidden technology: a temporal weapon capable of reshaping the very fabric of time. The atmosphere crackles with urgency, as every faction knows that control of this device could decide whether civilization survives or is erased forever.
Enter Anthony Rand, a roguish soldier whose reputation for daring and defiance precedes him. Tasked with tracking down a merciless general who has seized the temporal weapon, Rand is propelled backward across the decades, thrust into an era that feels both alien and intimately familiar. His gritty resolve and unorthodox methods set him apart, and his willingness to confront impossible odds hints at deeper convictions that may be the key to averting catastrophe.
The mission forces Rand into a collision of eras, where the past and future blur into a hazardous landscape of paradoxes and hostile possibilities. Along the way, he encounters figures like Cathy Easton, a savvy inhabitant of the late‑1990s whose world becomes an unexpected crossroads for the looming conflict. Their interactions underscore the film’s core tension: can individuals from disparate times forge a fragile alliance strong enough to challenge a destiny already written in the stars?
Total Reality weaves a relentless, pulse‑pounding narrative that balances sleek sci‑fi spectacle with gritty, character‑driven drama. Its tone is a mix of stark futurism and gritty realism, inviting viewers to question how far one will go when the fate of an entire universe hangs on a single, desperate gamble across time.
What Happens in Total Reality?
The complete story of Total Reality, from the first scene to the last, in 900 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 9 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In 2107, Earth is under the iron rule of a military-political party known as the Bridgists. A galaxy-spanning rebellion against their control culminates in the near-total destruction of life on Earth, setting the stage for a desperate last stand. The rebels push back, but the Bridgists gain the upper hand near Proximia 2 in the Alpha Centauri system. After a brutal starship battle, the Bridgists claim victory, yet rebel Commander Tunis and Colonel Norris manage to escape aboard a time-travel shuttle that slips back to Earth in 1998. In a grim twist, the Bridgists destroy the rebel ship, even though it carries civilians. As the disaster looms, the Bridgist lieutenant [David Bradley] as Anthony Rand attempts to halt the destruction, but in a fateful turn he ends up killing his own commander and is imprisoned.
Rand’s fate shifts when he is among four prisoners—[Misa Koprova] as Wingate, [Brian Faker] as Frankel, and [Melik Malkasian] as Uriah—who are recruited to travel back to 1998 and kill Tunis. They have a strict deadline: 48 hours, or their bio-implants will self-destruct and end their lives. The mission is as much a race against time as a bid to avert a future ruled by the Bridgists. The quartet materializes in late 1998 America, where Rand’s team steals a car and Uriah deftly takes the wheel. They quickly cross paths with Cathy Easton, a businesswoman from 1998 played by [Ely Pouget], who breaks into her ex-husband’s house and stumbles upon Tunis and Norris. The newcomers reach the scene just as gunfire erupts, Uriah is killed, Tunis makes his escape, and the house is blown apart in a final, explosive confrontation. Rand manages a narrow rescue of Cathy, and as FBI agents descend to investigate the blast, Uriah’s bio-implant detonates, adding to the confusion.
Back at Cathy’s place, Cathy reveals a crucial link to the larger conflict: she was once married to John Bridges, the author who helped spark the Bridgist movement. Rand realizes that Tunis’s time jump may have been driven by this revelation, and in a desperate bid to protect Cathy, he and Wingate set in motion a dangerous plan to outmaneuver their pursuers. They blow the house and vanish into the night, hoping the blast will obscure their trail. Meanwhile, Wingate detects a signal from Tunis and Norris’s bio-trackers hidden in an old warehouse. Frankel, meanwhile, discovers the bio-trackers stored in a wooden chest, but the moment the chest is opened, the trackers self-destruct, terminating his life in a final, grim act.
The plot thickens when John Bridges survives an assassination attempt, and Cathy becomes the prime suspect in the ensuing chaos. Rand and Wingate rush to shield Cathy from the growing net closing around her, helping her to escape as they press on to locate Tunis. Rand dispatches Wingate back to their ship and presses forward with Cathy, determined to confront Tunis once and for all. Their pursuit leads them into a dangerous confrontation with the political machine surrounding John Bridges and the shadowy forces behind the Bridgists, with Congressman Jerry stepping into the fray to secure political backing that could tilt the balance of power.
Conversations unfold as Rand and Cathy track Tunis toward the man who started it all. They visit John Bridges, eliminating his security guards and pressing him for answers. Cathy urges Rand not to kill, insisting there may still be a chance to set things right, but Tunis beats them to the punch and abducts Jerry, intending to clone himself in Jerry’s image and use the disguise to run for president. A tense gunfight erupts as Rand and Cathy close in, and Jerry is killed in the chaos. Tunis manages to slip away, taking Cathy as a hostage, and the chase erupts onto a bridge where Rand corners Tunis and delivers a decisive shot. Cathy, leveraging her grit, dives into the river to escape, and Rand follows in deadly pursuit.
In the immediate aftermath, Wingate returns to the ship but finds the mission far from over. Rand is stranded in 1998 as his bio-implant nears its final countdown, while Cathy is arrested by the FBI, insisting she and Rand bore no part in the future catastrophe and that Tunis came from another time. The authorities choose to drop the charges when the truth starts to surface. Wingate reports back to the future, only to discover a stunning reversal: all space stations have vanished, and a lone cruiser from Earth has appeared to pull Wingate in. In this new reality, there has been no war, and Earth was never destroyed—an alternate timeline born from the tampering with time.
- Anthony Rand: David Bradley
- Tunis: Thomas Kretschmann
- Cathy Easton: Ely Pouget
- Wingate: Misa Koprova
- Frankel: Brian Faker
- Uriah: Melik Malkasian
- John Bridges: Michael Mendelson
- Congressman Jerry: Geof Prysirr
- Leader: Patsy Pease
In this sprawling, time-tangled tale, motives blur and loyalties shift as a small band of rebels fights not just for survival but for the shape of history itself. The future hinges on choices made in the past, and every escape, explosion, and bridge-crossing tests whether a single act of courage can rewrite an entire world. Bold, intricate, and relentlessly paced, the story keeps faith with its core idea: time travel can offer salvation or catastrophe, depending on who holds the reins and who understands the true cost of altering history.
Total Reality Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Bridgists rule Earth; rebellion launches time escape” to “Wingate returns to a changed future”. 15 events name a place, across 13 locations.
- 1
Bridgists rule Earth; rebellion launches time escape
In 2107, the Bridgists exert absolute control over Earth as a galaxy-wide rebellion fights back. The battle culminates near Proximia 2 in the Alpha Centauri system, where the Bridgists destroy the rebel fleet and all life on Earth appears doomed. The remaining rebels launch a desperate time-travel shuttle that escapes to 1998, carrying Tunis and Norris.
When:2107 Where:Proximia 2, Alpha Centauri
- 2
A 48-hour mission assigned to erase Tunis
Rand, along with Wingate, Frankel, and Uriah, are recruited to travel back to 1998 and kill Tunis. They are given a perilous deadline: 48 hours or their bio-implants will self-destruct, killing them.
When:2107 Where:Bridgist base
- 3
Arrival in 1998 America
The team lands in the United States in 1998 and steals a car to begin their mission. Uriah takes the wheel as Rand and Wingate prepare to pursue Tunis and Norris, who have also traveled back in time.
When:1998 Where:America, 1998
- 4
Cathy Easton encounters Tunis and Norris; Uriah dies
Cathy Easton, a businesswoman, breaks into her ex-husband's house and discovers Tunis and Norris there. Rand's group opens fire, Uriah is killed, and Tunis escapes, while Rand rescues Cathy when the house is blown apart.
When:1998 Where:Ex-husband's house
- 5
FBI investigates the explosion; Uriah's bio-implant detonates
FBI agents arrive to investigate the explosion at the house. Uriah's bio-implant detonates, killing him postmortem and complicating the case.
When:1998 Where:Ex-husband's house vicinity
- 6
Revelation of Bridges; Rand learns Bridges founded the Bridgist movement
Rand and Wingate return to Cathy's house, where she reveals she was married to John Bridges. Rand suspects Bridges authored a political book that helped spark the Bridgist movement, explaining Tunis's motive for time travel.
When:1998 Where:Cathy's house
- 7
Police arrive; Rand blows up the house to escape
The police arrive at the scene, but Rand causes the house to explode to cover their retreat. He and Wingate escape amid the wreckage, continuing their mission.
When:1998 Where:Ex-husband's house vicinity
- 8
Wingate tunes into bio-trackers' signal
Wingate receives a signal from Tunis and Norris's bio-trackers located inside an old warehouse. The clue leads them to a potential hideout and a setback for Tunis.
When:1998 Where:Old warehouse
- 9
Frankel discovers trackers; tragedy in the chest
Frankel discovers the trackers embedded in a wooden chest. When he opens it, the trackers self-destruct, killing Frankel and eliminating a crucial source of information.
When:1998 Where:Old warehouse
- 10
John Bridges' near-death; Cathy becomes a suspect
An explosion almost kills John Bridges, casting suspicion on Cathy. Rand and Wingate help Cathy escape the police as they press on with the mission.
When:1998 Where:John Bridges vicinity
Show the other 5 events of Total Reality Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Jerry's blackmail; Bridges' political machinations
Congressman Jerry meets with John Bridges to secure Senate support, leveraging alleged tax debts and money laundering. The revelation highlights a broader web of manipulation behind the Bridgist agenda.
When:1998 Where:Bridges' circle
- 12
Tunis abducts Jerry; plan to clone himself
Tunis locates Congressman Jerry and kidnaps him, intending to clone himself into Jerry's image to run for president. Rand and Cathy pursue Tunis to thwart this dangerous power grab.
When:1998 Where:City outskirts
- 13
Climax on the bridge; Tunis killed; Cathy escapes
Rand and Cathy corner Tunis; a gunfight ensues and Jerry is killed in the crossfire. Tunis escapes, taking Cathy hostage, forcing a desperate pursuit across a bridge.
When:1998 Where:Bridge area
- 14
Final duel; Rand's implant explodes; Cathy arrested
On the bridge’s edge, Rand kills Tunis; Cathy escapes by leaping into the river. Rand's bio-implant sacrifices itself as the 48-hour window closes; Cathy is arrested but later released when authorities realize Rand and Tunis came from the future.
When:1998 Where:Bridge; river
- 15
Wingate returns to a changed future
Wingate returns to the future to find space stations disappeared. Her ship is intercepted by an Earth space cruiser and a new reality emerges: there has been no war, and Earth was never destroyed.
When:Future Where:Space, then future Earth orbit
Who Are the Main Characters in Total Reality?
14 characters, among them Anthony Rand (David Bradley), Commander Tunis (Thomas Kretschmann) and Commander Swift (Ken Olandt): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Anthony Rand (David Bradley)
Played by David Bradley
Rand is a rebel lieutenant within the Bridgist regime who leads the mission to stop Tunis. He is driven by duty and loyalty but often grapples with brutal methods. After killing his own commander in the attempt to destroy the rebel ship, he is arrested and imprisoned. He volunteers for the dangerous time-travel mission, balancing personal risk with the goal of preventing civilian catastrophe.
- 🧭 Loyalty
- ⚔️ Conflict
- 🧠 Strategy
-
Commander Tunis (Thomas Kretschmann)
Played by Thomas Kretschmann
Tunis is a Bridgist commander whose cunning and ruthless ambition drive the plot. He escapes to 1998 and plots to manipulate events by cloning himself into a political figure. He repeatedly evades capture and uses manipulation to advance his agenda. His presence embodies the threat of a calculated, long-range tyranny.
- 🗡️ Deception
- 🧠 Intelligence
- 🔥 Antagonism
- CS
Commander Swift (Ken Olandt)
Played by Ken Olandt
Swift is a high-ranking Bridgist commander who remains a steady voice of military authority. He intersects with Rand’s team during the pursuit and confrontation of Tunis. His actions help shape the operational setting of the rebellion and its tactical decisions. He represents the disciplined, uncompromising side of the regime.
- 🛡️ Authority
- ⚔️ Military
- 🔍 Investigation
- AS
Agent Smith (Marcus Aurelius)
Played by Marcus Aurelius
Agent Smith is a government operative involved in the investigation and pursuit of the rebels. He embodies the enforcement arm of the regime and the tension between security and civil liberties. His role helps escalate the conflict as law enforcement closes in on the time-travel plotters. He remains a steady, methodical counterforce to the rebels.
- 🧭 Surveillance
- 🧠 Investigation
- ⚖️ Authority
- MP
Major Prackel (Bob Morrisey)
Played by Bob Morrisey
Major Prackel is a Bridgist officer involved in the chain of command during the crisis. He represents the military backbone of the regime and its readiness to take decisive, hard-line actions. His presence underscores the relentless mechanism of control used by the Bridgists. He serves as a procedural antagonist in the early phase of the timeline.
- 🎖️ Military
- 🗂️ Bureaucracy
- 🧱 Control
- CE
Cathy Easton (Ely Pouget)
Played by Ely Pouget
Cathy is a 1998 businesswoman who meets Tunis and Rand during their mission. She becomes entangled in the conspiracy surrounding Bridges and the Bridgist regime. She embodies civilian resilience and moral complexity, aiding Rand at critical moments. Her arc anchors the human stakes of the temporal war.
- 🧭 Ally
- 💔 Relationships
- 🧩 Mystery
- F(
Frankel (Brian Faker)
Played by Brian Faker
Frankel is a member of Rand’s time-travel team who discovers the bio-trackers. He is killed when the trackers self-destruct, highlighting the perilous nature of the mission. His actions contribute to the high-stakes tension of the retrieval operation. He embodies the sacrifice inherent in the rebels’ plan.
- 💥 Sacrifice
- 🧭 Loyalty
- ⚠️ Risk
- AW
Agent Wesson (Anna Nicholas)
Played by Anna Nicholas
Agent Wesson is a government agent involved in the security and investigation surrounding the 1998 events. She interacts with Cathy and other characters as the case unfolds. Her role emphasizes the legal and protective implications of the time-travel crisis. She acts as a procedural liaison between the agency and the unfolding drama.
- 🕵️♀️ Investigation
- 🛡️ Protection
- 🔎 Compliance
- CJ
Congressman Jerry (Geof Prysirr)
Played by Geof Prysirr
Congressman Jerry is a political figure who becomes collateral in John Bridges’ machinations. He is pressured and blackmailed to secure support for a potential Senate bid. His kidnapping by Tunis escalates the political stakes and manipulates future power dynamics. He personifies the crossover between politics and shadow manipulation.
- 🧭 Power
- 🗣️ Politics
- 🔒 Blackmail
- G(
Guard (Mark Angelo)
Played by Mark Angelo
Guard is a security figure encountered within the tense, high-stakes environment. While not central to the plot, he helps establish the security barrier around critical locations. His presence adds to the sense of a tightly controlled system under Bridgist rule. He acts as a narrative obstacle in key scenes.
- 🛡️ Security
- 🧱 Barrier
- 🧭 Routine
- L(
Leader (Patsy Pease)
Played by Patsy Pease
Leader is a prominent figure among the rebels, steering the resistance’s actions. She embodies the human drive for autonomy and the political will to challenge oppression. Her leadership helps coordinate risky operations and sustain morale under pressure. She stands as a symbolic figure of rebellion within the story.
- 🧭 Leadership
- 🗳️ Resistance
- 💪 Courage
- JB
John Bridges (Michael Mendelson)
Played by Michael Mendelson
John Bridges is the author of a book on political idealism who becomes entangled in tax debts and money laundering. He is a nexus for the Bridgist ideology and the political machinery that supports it. His past actions and writings influence Tunis’s motives and the political intrigue surrounding the future. He is a catalyst for the plot’s exploration of political manipulation.
- 🧠 Influence
- 🧩 Manipulation
- 💰 Corruption
- U(
Uriah (Melik Malkasian)
Played by Melik Malkasian
Uriah is one of the four prisoners recruited for the time mission. He dies when the bio-trackers in the chest self-destruct after being opened. His role highlights the personal cost of altering history and the fragility of life when timelines collide. He represents sacrifice for a chance to rewrite the future.
- 🧭 Sacrifice
- ⚠️ Fatal Risk
- 🧬 Bio-Implants
- W(
Wingate (Misa Koprova)
Played by Misa Koprova
Wingate is a member of Rand’s team who tracks signals from Tunis and Norris. She manages the escape of the group and returns to the ship to continue the mission. Her quick actions help sustain the rebellion’s efforts in the timeline. She embodies resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing situation.
- 🛰️ Communication
- 🗺️ Navigation
- 🏃♀️ Resilience
Where and When Is Total Reality Set?
Total Reality is set in Earth (2107), Proximia 2 (Alpha Centauri system) and United States (1998) (2107 and 1998). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
2107 and 1998
The narrative moves between two eras: a dystopian 2107 Earth and a chaotic 1998 United States. In 2107, Bridgists tighten their grip on society; in 1998, a 48-hour mission is launched to alter that future. Time travel creates ethical and strategic tension, as past actions echo into the present. The countdown of bio-implants adds urgency to every decision.
Where
Earth (2107), Proximia 2 (Alpha Centauri system), United States (1998)
Most of the story unfolds on a militarized Earth in 2107 under Bridgist rule. Space battles spill over to Proximia 2 in the Alpha Centauri system. A time-travel shuttle transports rebels back to 1998, shifting the setting between a distant future and late-1990s America. The varied locales frame the epic confrontation between oppression, rebellion, and the fragility of history.
- 🪐 Sci-Fi
- 🚀 Space
- 🗺️ Dystopia
What Are the Themes of Total Reality?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Time Travel, Ethics and Power & Rebellion.
-
01
Time Travel
Time travel drives the plot, allowing rebels to slip from a doomed future into the past. The 48-hour deadline and bio-implant risks raise the stakes for every choice. Actions in 1998 threaten to rewrite the entire trajectory of Earth’s history. The story uses shifting timelines to explore destiny, consequence, and possibility.
-
02
Ethics
Characters must weigh civilian risk against a perceived greater good. Attacks on targets and the manipulation of political figures test loyalty and morality. Cathy’s restraint contrasts Rand’s harsher tactics, highlighting moral tension within a crisis-driven mission. The ending implies that ethical choices across time shape future realities in unforeseen ways.
-
03
Power & Rebellion
The Bridgists’ dominance is maintained through military and political authority, provoking a desperate rebellion. Leadership, propaganda, and strategic strikes shape the political landscape they inhabit. The plot questions whether revolutionary violence can truly restore freedom or merely alter who wields power. The final twist reimagines a future where Earth remains free from war.
What Kind of Film Is Total Reality?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a complex story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Complex
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A relentlessly paced, tense time-travel thriller that creates a constant sense of urgency and paranoia as characters race against doomsday deadlines and paradoxes in a desperate bid to rewrite history.
- tense
- anxious
- urgent
- paranoid
- futuristic
- action-packed
- time travel
- alternate timelines
- political rebellion
- race against time
Content notes: war violence, implied civilian casualties, bio-implant suicide devices.
Quiz
How well do you remember Total Reality? Test yourself on the story.
